Page 37 of Sing with Me

“And I’m sorry I made you cry last night,” Diehl said quietly.

“What?” Skye had moved on.

“Last night at church, I asked about your parents. I’m sorry I did.”

Skye blinked. “It was a memory. That’s all.”

“Parents are never just memories. They’ll always be with us, no matter where they are, and no matter if they’re gone.” Diehl lifted Skye’s chin with a gentle finger.

His eyes seemed to be on her lips.

Then the moment passed.

He dropped his finger.

Skye was glad he did. It wasn’t the right time.

“Seb—my brother—handled it better than I did, but my parents died needlessly that night.” Skye felt that Diehl should know. “They were drinking and driving across a railroad track. Their car was split into two by a train.”

“I’m sorry.” His face changed. “I’m so sorry.”

“Twenty years ago.” Skye cracked four eggs into the potato nests she had made. “Then again, God worked it out. We went to live with an uncle here in town. He owned a restaurant. We discovered we loved to cook and we ended up in cooking school.”

“I’m glad.”

Skye sprinkled some salt on the eggs, and into the oven the muffin pan went. “I haven’t baked in this oven, so let’s see how long it will take.”

She washed her hands. “I’m afraid the bacon will get cold.”

“No, it won’t.” Diehl walked over to the breakfast nook with his platter of bacon. “Let’s eat it.”

Skye washed her hands and dried them on a clean kitchen towel she found in a drawer. “You eat it. I’m here to cook only.”

“No, Skye. Sit down with me.” He moved her purse and tote bag to the floor. “We’re waiting for the eggs to cook, and I want mine well done. I don’t want anything jiggly in the eggs.”

“Then you need to wash your hands,” Skye said.

“Again?” Diehl complied.

Skye looked for forks and knives, plates, and napkins. There were paper napkins, but she could not find any cloth napkins.

“Paper is fine,” Diehl said. “Would you like to say a blessing?”

Skye nodded. She kept her hands on her lap when she prayed. “Dear Lord Jesus, thank You for yet another beautiful week. Thank You for the morning sun and sea breeze coming in, for the warmth of Your unending love, and for Your sovereignty over our lives. I pray that You will keep Diehl’s family safe as they fly in today. Give him a wonderful time with his two children. Give the Brooks family a special blessing today that only You can give. And now for this breakfast, thank You for the food we’re about to eat. You are the provider of all things. I pray that You will cause the food to be nutritious to our bodies. Keep us healthy, Lord. In Your most holy Name I pray. Amen.”

“Amen.” And Diehl reached for the bacon with his fingers. “I washed my hands.”

“You remind me of my brother. He likes to eat bacon with his fingers too. Like snacks.”

“Why not?” Diehl waved the bacon around in the air. “We should cook more.”

“Not everyone likes turkey bacon,” Skye said. “You do.”

“That’s all I eat. It’s less oily than pork bacon.”

“For sure. I try to eat healthy too. That’s why we source all our ingredients locally if at all possible, or at least from organic farms.”

“I appreciate that.”

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